HELPING OTHERS

PROF. BEN ONYEUKWU (REV.)

NCE(Eng.) ND/HD (Journalism); BA (Hons) MA, PhD.

Call: +2348037346939  E-mail: professorbenonyeukwu@yahoo.com

HELPING OTHERS

Devotional Text: Luke 10:25-37

Introduction:

Helping one simply means making something easier for one.  This may take the form of doing part of one’s work or by giving one advice or money. The foregoing, therefore, implies that there are material and non-material helping. Furthermore, it is important to point out here that the Bible admonishes Christians to be detribalized in helping others, when it says, “do good to all men”. However, it also encourages that a greater measure of helping exercise be directed towards those who are fellow believers and not just those of one’s denomination (see Gal. 6:10).

GENERAL REMARKS

(1)    In times of distress, one should always go to God for help and in turn allow Him to send the human vessel He chooses to use, (see Psalm 18:16).

(2)    We are called upon to help the weak, (Acts 20:35).

(3)    We are also called upon to help the poor, (Lev. 25:35).

(4)    God has made some people able to help others, (I Cor. 12:28).

MATERIAL HELPING (LUKE 10:33-37)

The parable of the Good Samaritan pictures one of the finest attitudes that gladdens the heart of God. However, in most cases, God is disappointed by the attitude of many Christians who take after the Priest and Levite in the story who refused helping someone in need. Such an attitude indicates:

(i)                 lack of love, (1 John 3:17-18)

(ii)               lack of faith, (Kames 2:14-16)

(iii)             lack of human feelings, (1 John 3:17).

NON-MATERIAL HELPING, (ROMAN 12;15)

The biblical admonition, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, mourn with those who mourn”, calls for emotional helping. Without mincing words, all forms of emotional helping are non-material helping. As Christians, the Bible admonishes us to:

(i)                 weep in supportive empathy with those that weep, (Rom. 12:15)

(ii)               encourage one another in the faith, (1 Thess. 5:11)

(iii)             encourage the timid and help the weak, (vs. 14B).

GOD HELPS THOSE WHO HELP OTHERS, (PROV. 19:17)

The aphorism, “heaven helps those who help themselves”, is biblically wrong, and therefore, should be replaced with, “heaven helps those who help others”. One who engages oneself in helping the less-privileged in society or church invariably engages God in helping one. Based on the fact stated above, it becomes noticeable that:

(i)                 helping the poor brings help from above (see Prov. 19:17)

(ii)               helping the weak brings more blessings (see Acts 20:35)

(iii)             helping the orphans and widows in their distress is regarded by God as a pure and faultless form of religion (see James 1:27).

The inclusion of the section (iii) in the sub-topic under review (God Helps Those Who Help Others) is to highlight that what God approves as pure and faultless invariably attracts His blessing on those who engage in practicing such things. Finally, “carry each other’s burden, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ, (Gal. 6:2).